Pie rimming and pinching machine



Oct. 13, 1925. 1,557,441

- W. EHRLICH PIE RIMMING AND PINCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 $51M xw w W. EHRLICH PIE RIMMING AND PINCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5. 1922 3 Shets-Sheet a Imal fn. m

Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EI-IR-LIGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO CASE & MARTIN COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PIE RIMMING AND PINCI-IING MACHINE.

Application filed January 3, 1922. Serial No. 526,621.

ful Improvements in Pie Rimming and' Pinchinp' Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for.

forming the rim of pics and has for its object the provision of simple and efiicient mechanism for automatically forming the rim and pinching the edge to serrate or roughen the latter. 7

Other objects will appear hereinafter. An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of one end of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the other end of said machine;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the cen- 25 tral portion of Fig. 1; and

Fig. t is an enlarged fragmental plan view of a clutch used in the construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have indicated a frame conslsting of uprights 5 at the ends with a member 6 connecting the tops of said uprights. The receiving end of the machine is indicated in Fig. 2 and mounted on the upright is a pulley 7 which cooperates with a similar pulley 8 at the other end of the machine for operating an endless conveyer 9. The pulleys 7 and 8 may be arranged in any-manner to support a desirable endless conveyer. A conveyer suitable for this device consists of a wide belt 10 secured to two sprocket chains 11. It is desirable to provide the sprocket chains in order to prevent the belt from slipping on the pulleys 7 and 8, for the belt must be timed with respect to pulley 8, particularly. Pulley 7 is preferably mounted on a block 12 which-is slidably mounted in a guide 13 and provided with a screw 14 which passes through a yoke 15 on the guide 13. A nut 16 is threaded on the bolt 14 for.

adjusting the block 12 to tighten the conveyer when desirable.

held against lugs 28 on wheel 22 On the conveyer is a plurality of memhere 18 each having an opening therein. In

the opening is a rod 19 which extends through the conveyer and has a pie-tin holder 20 secured at lts upper end. Al spring 21 is mounted on the rod 19 so as to holdthe pie-tin holder firmly against the blocir or mounting 18.

The pulley 8 is preferably made up of a primary wheel part 22 which has a hub. 23 journaled on a sleeve 24which is a part of the upright 5. On the front side of wheel 22 is an annular member 25 which has its outer periphery formed similarly to the wheel 22 for engagingthe endless conveyer 9. The member 25' is held to wheel 22 by bolts and spacers 26. Wheel 22 is mounted a ring 27 which has its rear side plane for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. The ring2'? is by means On the rear side of" of the bolts 26, as clearly indicated in Fig.

3. The hub 23 has a restricted. portion upon which a driving gear 29 is fixed, and said gear' meshes with a pinion 30 fixed on a shaft '31 which is mounted in the'upright 5 and an auxiliary bearing 32. The shaft 31 has a disc clutch member 33 fixed thereon, and the member 38 is adapted to cooperate with a disc glutch member 84 fixed on a hub 35 which is journaled on shaft 31. The hub 35 carries a beveled gear 36 which 'meshes with a pinion 37 on a vertical shaft 38 which carries a beveled gear 39 meshing with a pinion 10 on a shaft 11 and the latter is driven. through gears 42 by an electric motor 43 or other suitable drivlng means.

It will be notedthat shafts 38 and 11 are also mountedin suitable hearings on the device. 1

'Suitable pressure'is applied to the shaft 31 through a. collar 44 fixed on said shaft bya spring l5 bearing against a suitable boss on frame 5. A ball bearing 16 or other friction alleviating means may be provided between the collar 44 and spring 15. Also,

a ball bearing or other friction alleviating means may be provided between the hub 35 and bearing 32, as indicated at 1-7. The clutch members 33 and 34 are thus held together at all times and when the endless conmember 51' cooperatesWith a clutch mem-" clutch 5152 may be of any. desirablecon struction, but I find one having a positive lock, such as a pin 53nmonntedi intheolntch member 52 adapted to pass into an opening 54; of; the ic'lntchimember 51, forms a; desirable'construction The pin:5'3; has ailng 55 n extending radially from the shaft 50 which 1 is-adaptedto beyengaged by a-Wedge 56 for \VltllCllflfidllgtth6319l11 53 from opening? 54 to =i'ender therOlutcha5L++52inoperative. In wthe3presentinstance, member 56 is pivoted on a pin 57 and provided-with a spring 58 aifor normally holding it against the hubof clutch member 51: infthespathi of projection 2 .55.; 'TlIGJIPll'll5'3- isQnrged toward theiclntch.

' member 51- by a=springw59 pressingagainst itszsinner end so 1 thatnthe pin. 53 Will ride iagainst the adj acent. surface: of clutchmemher 5.]; until itwcomes tort-he opening 54when it iwill automatically passi-ntouthe latter.

iAlsoywhen the shaft 50 hasrotated to near r the endrofits: revolution, wedge 56. engages wthe projection 55 to withdraw: hthe' pin? 53 fromithe opening 54.

Thexshaft50xialsocarries a. cam 60 which 35. is-adapted to engagee the' roller6140f a. lever 162. l-lie' lever 6.2 isiconneoted.bymeans of a chain or other arrangementi63' t6 the wedge 56.1 The upper-fiend of lever 62 isapivotally connected to a pirr 64 which passes through 40 the frame 5 andhas zoneend adaptedtoen -gage OPeHlllgS"65i1lni plate'z27. :8 A =sp'ring 66'- =normally presses the pins 644-; toward .athe

:plate 27. The 'gears"=48'; andv49; ,together with'nthe clutch members 52 aand 34 Willi be continu- -.o.usly rotated during a the; operation 2 ofathe "device lWithrtheaparts ina'thei positions in- ,dicated in vFig. 3clutchr51i-+52 is in opera- ZtlVQ'MGOHClltlOD so that shaftz50 will be ro- 50 xtated auntila cam 60 movesvthe lever. 62- which awill; permitrathe wedge. 53 t0-.=1iest against the el'uba of clutch: 51rin'sthe1 path of projection 55, and when the shaft 50 has rotated to-near theaend of itsrevolution theiwvedge withdrawswtherpin 53 from :opening 54:to disconnect clutch-member 51' fromm'ember 52. This movement of lever 62 also withdraws the zpiir 64 from opening 65 which permits .thewheel 22 to rotate dne tbi tllQHCOIltll'lUOUS frictional engagement between'clutclr members 83 and 34; T he wheel 22 i and, the. conveyer will rotatenntil the pin 64 comes into engagement with ithe' -next 'opening in ring 27.: lTh-e"spring. 66 willaa'utomatically 65 move pin 64 into said next opening 65 and lock the conveyer against further movement, causing slippage between clutch members 33 and 34. This movement of pin 64 into said opening 65 moves lever 62 to. raise the Wedge 5650111; of. engagement-flwith projection 55, permitting spring 59 to move pin. 53 into engagement with clutch member 51, and as soon as said pin 53 comes intoa'egistration "with opening- 54clutclrmembers 51 and 52 will belockedtogether again for rotation "until Qam'GO'again operates lever 62 when sthe cycle: of movements will be repeated.

On the front end of shaft 50 is a cam 7 O which is engaged by a-roller 71. The roller i 71- is mounted inthe adj acent ends of links .72aa nd- 73 which arei at'substantially right angles toeach -other.'- The link73 is pivoted as at? 4- to a; member 75 fixedon the outer trend of projection 24.: :The upper end of link -72 is pivoted as at'76- to a vertically sliding member 77. The part 24qhas=air-upwardly extending-guide 7 8- in whiclrthe member 77 is mounted.- The arrangement is such'that when the conveyer is locked,-againstunove- 'ment the;upperend;of'member: 77 will be ,1n ,-.reg1stra-tion e vith one ofthe rods 19-so that when shaft 50 is operated cam 70 will move the member -v-up against. said rod=19 to move--theipiestin holder 20;=up in operating relation. "with a ipie-engagingr meinber 79. @The member 79 isadapted to engage the inner side of a pie-crust A to hold thelatter in ahtin in thepholdery20'while themim is formed :on saidapiescrustx; The member 79 is.held aga-inst rotation by being fixed on the lower end of a member 80 mounted on a --=plate J' :81. The. ymember-=-80i is; preferably cylindrical, or at-,least has a-por-tion cylinrdr-icahqupon -which is mounted a. gear 82. Theagear 82 carries a-barb83 at its lower -=endiand inuthe'ends'of theibar 83 are mountwedv two ori-more pie-pinching rollers 84. uE'ach of: the rollers- 84: p'referably carries a (gear 85: fixedithereonwhich meshes with a f-g ear 86-011" the-member 80. Thns theagear 86 is heldstationary; and-ithe gears 85 rostated; around thei gea-ruS6, :Ellld tlllSa moveument: :ofthe gee rs 85 "around. gear 86 causes -rotatiorr of -'the-pie-pinchers=z 84 as the latter -areaz,mo-.ved flTOilllClflIl181Bdg6 of the pievby gearr82- r fiaidrgear;82r1neshes with a gear .87 on eta-shaft 88. .Saicl shaft 88 carries a xolutch'amember 89 which engages a plane -.side: of gear 90. A spring 91 .holds thememxber89 against rthewfaceotgear soas :to cause. rotation of' the piepinchers,' as aboves=clesc1ibed. a -.The gear 90-meshes with ar-gear 92, 'and:theilatter is driven through :aishaft'93and gears94f-rom gear 89.

Itasometimes occurs that-the 'pie dough tends to; stick to the mmber=79 and L pref- ;erablyaprovide a stripper 95 in -the under face of member 79 which is opera-tedxby a 'rod 96 which extends through memberSO. A lever 97 engages the upper end of rod 96 and said lever is operated by a link 98 through a lever 99 which engages a cam member 100 on the front side of disc 70. l/Vith this arrangement, just after the cam permits the pie-tin holder 20 to be lowered, stripper 95 is caused to press down on the pie A in the tin in member 20 to make sure that the pie dough is freed from the member 7 9.

In Fig. 1 I have indicated more or less diagrammatically a pie dough rolling device 101. This device may be any of the well-known devices for rolling out dough for pies, and is preferably operated from shaft 41, as indicated. The member 101 preferably discharges its dough when rolled out onto an adjacent tin in a holder 20. Said tin, of course, being placed into the member 20 by hand or otherwise. After the rim and pinching has been done on the dough the pie is taken from holder 20 from the end of the machine indicated in .Fig. 1 by hand or otherwise.

In Fig. 1 I have indicated a plurality of members 79 and pie-pinching devices 84, and their operating parts. It will. be apparent that one of these devices may be used, or when it is desired to form pies having different markings, the members 84 may have different shapes in the different forms so that by turning the member 81 011 its central shaft 102 to bring a new head having the desired configurations in the members 84, desired pinchings or a desired rim may be formed on the pie. All that is necessary to change from one head to the other is to loosen the thumb screws 103 and swing the latter on pins 104: to free the member 81, then rotate the latter about its shaft 102 to its new position, and then adjust the locking members 103 to lock the device in its new position. A dowel pin 105 may be provided to facilitate bringing the head to its new position and holding it there.

I claim 1. A pie crimping machine comprising 'a frame; two shafts journaled in the frame; a pie conveyor actuated by one of said shafts; a gear journaled on each of said shafts withsaid gears meshing together; a disc clutch member rigidly attached to one of said gears; a disc clutch member fixed on one of said shafts and frictionally engaging the disc on said gear; and a spring around said shaft and pressing against said frame for holding the disc clutch members together, said clutch permitting stoppage of said conveyor and continued movement of said pie crimping mechanism.

2. A pie crimping machine comprising a frame; two parallel shafts mounted in the frame; a gear journaled on each of said shafts with said gears meshing together; a disc clutch member fixed on one of said gears; a disc clutch member fixed on one of said shafts and engaging the first-mentions: clutch member; a spring tending to hold said clutch members tightly together; a clutch on the other shaft having a connection with the gear on the last-mentioned shaft; pie lifting mechanism secured to said shaft and means for operating the lastmentioned clutch for transmitting interrupted movement to said pie lifter.

3. A pie crimping machine comprising a frame; a shaft journaled in the frame; a sprocket wheel mounted in the frame around said shaft; an endless conveyer on said sprocket wheel; a pie holder on said conveyer; a pie crimping head mounted on the frame above the pie holder; a stripper connected with the pie crimping head; a cam on said shaft; and a lever engaging said cam and connected with said stripper.

A pie crimping machine comprising a frame; a shaft journaled in said frame; a sprocket journaled on the frame around said shaft; an endless conveyer on said sprocket; a plurality of pie holders on said conveyer and adapted to be brought to a predetermined position adjacent said sprocket; a cam on said shaft; an arm fixed on the frame; a head slidably mounted in the frame; two links having their adjacent ends pivoted together and their remote ends pivoted to said head and arm; and a roller journaled at the pivotal points of said links and engaging said cam, the cam being formed so as to press said head against the pie holder to raise the latter for a predetermined time.

5. A pie crimping machine comprising a frame; a shaft journaled in the frame; a sprocket wheel mounted on said frame around said shaft; an endless conveyer on the sprocket wheel; a guide on the frame within the rim of said sprocket wheel; a head having a portion slidably mounted in said guide; a link pivoted to said head; a roller 011 said cam and journaled in the other end of said link; means for holding the roller in a predetermined position relative to the shaft and cam; a pie holder on the conveyer with a portion adjacent said head; a crimping head mounted on the frame above said sprocket wheel; and a stripper mounted on the crimping head and lover having a curved portion riding on said cam and connected with said stripper.

6. A crimping machine comprising a frame; a head pivotally mounted 011 said frame; means for locking said head in different positions about its pivotal connection; a plurality of spaced pie crimping members mounted on said head; a pie holder mounted adjacent said head; and means for holding said pie holder adjacent one of the crimping heads.

7. A pie crimping machine comprising a frame; a head mounted on said'frame with provision for rotating said head about a 

